Cattle Respiratory Disease Prevention in Feedlots

Bovine respiratory disease is the leading cause of cattle illness and death in feedlots, causing significant suffering that is largely preventable.

Key Facts

BRD accounts for over 70% of feedlot cattle morbidity and 40-50% of mortalities
Stress from weaning, transport, and mixing suppresses immune function and enables viral infection
Metaphylaxis — treating entire groups with antibiotics on arrival — is common but raises resistance concerns
Vaccination programs and low-stress handling reduce BRD incidence substantially
Early detection through behavior monitoring enables treatment before severe disease develops

Welfare Considerations

Bovine respiratory disease in feedlots represents massive preventable suffering. The disease process — viral infection followed by bacterial pneumonia — causes fever, difficulty breathing, and death in a significant proportion of affected animals. The welfare costs of both the disease and the stress-driven immune suppression that enables it are substantial. Prevention through low-stress handling, vaccination, adequate ventilation, and reduced stress at weaning and transport is more effective and welfare-promoting than reactive treatment. Reducing the scale of feedlot production addresses the root cause of concentrated disease pressure.

What You Can Do

Support beef producers with low BRD incidence through good management practices
Advocate for low-stress handling standards throughout the beef supply chain
Choose beef from grass-finished systems that reduce feedlot stress exposure
Support research into BRD prevention strategies that reduce antibiotic dependency
Reduce beef consumption to decrease demand for intensive feedlot systems